Posted in: Preview, Starz, TV | Tagged: Alexander Ludwig, heels, season 2, starz, stephen amell

Heels Season 2: Alexander Ludwig Vid Proves Ace Spade's Still Got It

So the last time we checked in on how things were going production-wise on the second season of STARZ's Stephen Amell (Arrow) and Alexander Ludwig (Vikings)-starring pro wrestling drama Heels, it was the end of January and Amell was announcing that training was getting underway and that they were scheduled to be "going to camera" around March 8 (now less than a week away). A little more than a month later, we're checking in to see how training's going with none other than Ludwig, who shared a clip from the Heels Gymnasium to not only thank the fans but to show them that even with a little time off? Ace Spade's still got it…

"We're back in Duffy! And all training our asses off to make this season spectacular. Thank you to all the fans who have been loving this show. We've stayed strong at 96% on [Rotten Tomatoes] which is truly phenomenal, not to mention the [Critics' Choice] nominations. Blown away by the love. Now it's time to up the ante," Ludwig wrote in the caption to his Instagram post before pulling off a little in-ring magic- check it out for yourselves below:

Here's a look at the official announcement teaser released back in November confirming the show's renewal, followed by Amell explaining why (you'll need to have seen the finale to truly appreciate it):

In Heels, the focus is on the men and women who chase their dreams in the world of small-town pro wrestling. Set in a close-knit Georgia community, it follows a family-owned wrestling promotion as two brothers and rivals — Jack Spade (Amell) and Ace Spade (Ludwig) — war over their late father's legacy. In the ring, somebody must play the good guy and somebody must play their nemesis, the heel. But in the real world, those characters can be hard to live up to — or hard to leave behind.

In the ring, Amell's Jack Spade is the charismatic villain, or heel, of the Duffy Wrestling League (DWL). In the real world, he's its hard-working owner, a husband, and father trying to make ends meet while fighting to realize his impossible dreams. He has the mind of an artist in the body of a warrior, and a Steve Jobs-ian need for perfection — and for control. He says he'll do whatever it takes to build the DWL into an empire. Will he go so far as to risk his marriage – or his relationship with his brother, Ace?

Ludwig's Ace Spade is the beloved hero and star of the DWL. Things are more difficult in the real world, where he struggles to reconcile his town idol status with his insecurities and demons. He's brash, cocky, and self-destructive — yet so damn charming and good-looking that you can almost forgive him. If he can keep it together, he'll have a ticket out of Duffy and to the big time. But that's a big if…

Written by Michael Waldron (Loki), directed by Peter Segal (Shameless), and with Mike O'Malley serving as showrunner, Heels stars Stephen Amell as Jack Spade, Alexander Ludwig as Ace Spade, Mary McCormack (The Kids Are Alright) as Willie, Chris Bauer (For All Mankind) as Wild Bill Hancock, Kelli Berglund (Animal Kingdom) as Crystal Tyler, Alison Luff (New Amsterdam) as Staci Spade, Allen Maldonado (The Last O.G.) as Rooster Robbins, James Harrison (NFL star) as Apocalypse, Trey Tucker (What Lies Below) as Bobby Pin, Robby Ramos (Snowfall) as Diego, Alice Barrett as Carol Spade, series showrunner Mike O'Malley as Charlie Gully, Duke Davis Roberts as Big Jim Kitchen, CM Punk as Ricky Rabies, and Bonnie Somerville (Blue Bloods) as Vicky Rabies. Waldron and O'Malley are also set to executive produce, alongside LBI Entertainment's Julie Yorn, Chris Donnelly, and Patrick Walmsley. STARZ and Lionsgate TV produce.

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